Louisiana high school juniors and seniors to share $25,000 in college scholarships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
November 12, 2025 (NEW ORLEANS, La.) – The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA), in partnership with the Trombone Shorty Foundation, announced the theme for the 2026 Annual Scholarship Art & Songwriting Contest – “Unveiling the Bayou: Light and Shadow.” Louisiana high school juniors and seniors are encouraged to explore and express what home means to them through the lens of the state’s unique landscapes and experiences. The 2026 contest winners will share $25,000 in college scholarships – in addition, visual art winners’ pieces will tour on exhibition across Louisiana (Summer + Fall 2026), while the first-place songwriting winner will have the opportunity to perform at the Trombone Shorty Foundation’s annual fundraiser, Shorty Fest, next May.
GRFA is once again partnering with the Loyola University’s College of Music and Media to provide additional opportunities for Songwriting Contest Finalists. These benefits include: the opportunity to record their song in Loyola’s state-of-the-art Studio A, alongside in-house engineers and producers; the opportunity to have their original song distributed through various Digital Service Providers (DSPs); and, the opportunity to perform live at Freret Fest 2026.
Deadline for entry submission is Friday January 23, 2026.
To date, GRFA has received over 7,500 applications to the Annual Scholarship Art & Songwriting Contest, and has awarded over $655,000 in college scholarship to over 270 students across Louisiana.
“Dad felt the bayou’s light and shadow shaped every stroke of his brush,” said Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. “This year’s contest theme, ‘Unveiling the Bayou: Light and Shadow,’ invites Louisiana’s young artists and songwriters to explore the same contrasts that defined Dad’s work, as seen in the LSU Museum of Art’s Bayou Collection exhibit through January 4, 2026. We encourage students to draw from their own roots and experiences, letting the interplay of light and shadow reveal their unique stories, just as Dad’s Blue Dog emerged from the heart of Louisiana’s mysteries.”
“We are honored to continue supporting this special competition for Louisiana students,” says Trombone Shorty Foundation Founding Executive Director Bill Taylor. “Witnessing how these young people reflect on their cultural heritage to create music, lyrics, and art year after year has been truly inspiring!”
Contest Theme: “Unveiling the Bayou: Light and Shadow”
This year, Louisiana’s young artists and songwriters are invited to explore “Light and Shadow,” drawing inspiration from George Rodrigue’s surreal Bayou Collection.
Students are encouraged to express the contrasts that define Louisiana and their own lives—light and dark, love and loss, hope and fear. Like Rodrigue’s haunting landscapes and glowing moons, their work should reveal what shines brightly and what lingers unseen in the world around them.
VISUAL ARTS COMPETITION:
All high school juniors and seniors in the state of Louisiana are eligible to apply. Contest judges will select 10 finalists (5 juniors/5 seniors) to share $19,000 in college scholarships. Following the Scholarship Awards Luncheon (Saturday March 26, 2026 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel), the winning entries will tour on exhibition across Louisiana.
Individual artwork will be judged on the following three criteria:
- Concept/Design: Does the artwork address the theme in a clear and inventive way? (1/3 score)
- Technical Skill: Does the artwork show an understanding of visual art principles such as use ofcolor, shading, light, and form? (1/3 score)
- Creativity: Does the artwork showcase an original point of view? Does it provide a freshperspective on the theme? (1/3 score)
SONGWRITING COMPETTION:
All high school juniors and seniors in the state of Louisiana are eligible to apply. A selection of three finalists will share $6,000 in college scholarships. Following the Scholarship Awards Luncheon (Saturday March 26, 2026 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel) the first-place winner will have the opportunity to perform during the Trombone Shorty Foundation’s annual fundraiser, Shorty Fest in May 2026, as well as Freret Fest 2026 in partnership with the Loyola University’s College of Music and Media.
Song submissions will be judged on the following criteria:
- Structure and Composition: Does the song have clearly identifiable sections (verse, chorus, etc.)? Is the song between 2-5 minutes? Does the song have a clear theme and cohesive structure? Does the music have an identifiable rhyme scheme or pattern? (1/3 score)
- Melody: Does the song have continuity and coherence in melody, as well as tone and style? Does the song offer something unique, different, and totally original? Does the music keep the listener interested and engaged? (1/3 score)
- Lyrics: Are the lyrics creative and original? Do they inspire an emotional or visceral reaction from the listener? Do the music and lyrics fit together in a cohesive way? (1/3 score)
For more information on GRFA’s 2026 Scholarship Art & Songwriting contest, please visit www.rodriguefoundation.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Christine Dunaway christine@georgerodriguefoundation.org 504-324-9614
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About the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA)
Founded by artist George Rodrigue (1944-2013) in 2009, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) advocates the importance of the arts in the development of our youth, encourages the use of art within all curriculums and supports a variety of art education programs. GRFA’s primary initiatives include its print donation program, raising millions of dollars at fundraising events through the use of George Rodrigue prints at auctions, raffles, and more; ongoing work with Louisiana A+ Schools, a research-based whole school network with a mission of nurturing creativity in every learner through an arts-integrated school network; George’s Art Closet, a program that awards custom art supply kits to Louisiana teachers whose funding does not otherwise allow for the expense; and the Annual Scholarship Art and Songwriting Contest. For more information, visit www.rodriguefoundation.org.
About the Trombone Shorty Foundation
The Trombone Shorty Foundation’s mission is to inspire the next generation of musically talented opportunity youth through music education, instruction, mentorship, and performance. By honoring the New Orleans tradition of “playing it forward” from the earliest jazz legends onward, the foundation seeks to preserve and perpetuate the musical heritage of a city where music is everything. Experienced and professional teachers, tutors, and mentors support every student in the pursuit of a well-rounded understanding of New Orleans’ musical traditions, experience in music performance, reading, writing, and now, even business, and the social and academic skills they need to make noise wherever they go – in music and in life. www.tromboneshortyfoundation.org.
